USI professor develops app to aid grad students' research

A University of Southern Indiana faculty member has developed a new smartphone app called WTF.

The initials don't stand for what you suspect they might.

Wendy Turner-Frey, an associate professor of social work, used her own initials when inventing the apps for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad called WTF Research and WTF Statistics.

"Students often point out what my initials can stand for, so I thought, 'I'll name my application that — it'll at least get students interested,'" Turner-Frey said.

According to USI, WTF Research is a decision-making tree for graduate students conducting research. It walks students through a process that helps them determine which research methods and tools to use for their chosen topics.

"I don't want to have to carry my students through the program," Turner-Frey said. "This teaches them to think logically and make connections."

USI officials say the app then stores all the data a student inputs, making it easy to reference research ideas.

"So often, a student will approach me and say, 'Now what research method did I decide on?'" Turner-Frey said. "With this app, students don't have to continually question their methods and tools."

Students can email results to professors.

Turner-Frey is teaching two research classes this semester and will offer the app as an option for her students to help them with their research.

"The app is applicable to all students doing research in the social sciences," she said.

WTF Statistics is a more elaborate decision-making tree which Turner-Frey said, "will help students decide what stats to run and how to calculate and interpret findings."

The app "will assist in making sure students are calculating the data correctly and, more importantly, that they understand what it means."

Turner-Frey, with help from computer sciences instructor Scott Anderson, is developing additional apps, including WTF Ideas, which USI officials say will assist faculty in storing research ideas.

"There are so many times when I'll be riding in my car and think of something that would make a great research question," Turner-Frey said. "This app will allow faculty to quickly store those ideas and help guide their research."

She's also developing what she calls a mood log, designed for patients to use with therapists to evaluate effectiveness of treatment.

WTF Research and WTF Statistics are available in the iTunes App Store for $2.99 each.